A fake Android app was disguised as an "Update WhatsApp Messenger", and it appeared to have been developed by the firm behind the real program - WhatsApp Inc.

According to users on the popular web forum Reddit, the fake contained ads and could download software to user's devices. It has now been removed from the Play Store.

But many are asking how did the developers of the malicious app manage to sneak it through onto Google Play unnoticed? Well, whoever was behind the app managed to make it look as though its developer was "WhatsApp Inc". They did this by using that exact name, though replacing the space with a special character that looks like a space. The subtle difference would have been very difficult to detect to the average user.

Users receiving automatic updates via the real WhatsApp would not have been affected according to experts.

It is far from the first time that Google has had to clean up fake malicious apps on the Play Store. Back in 2015, the firm had to step in and block one program that disguised itself as a battery monitor and sent premium-rate text messages from people's phones.

As always, it pays to be extra careful when downloading anything from the internet, even when it comes from a premium site like the Play Store.